6 Fall Activities in and Around Bloomington

Humid days slowly disperse into crisp mornings and cool evenings, signaling an exciting change of season. Fall is just around the corner, and that means Bloomington’s festivals and events are in full swing. Check out this list of things to do in and around Btown and start planning your autumn adventure!

Catch a Flick

Bloomington’s ‘Movies in the Park’ series will be running until mid-September, so spend a Friday night enjoying a film with the community. Two movies will be playing:

September 8: Double Indemnity, 8:35pm in Waldron Hill Buskirk Park

September 15: Tomorrowland, 8:30pm in Bryan Park

Another exciting movie is coming to town. The Good Catholic, an IU grad-produced film, is playing at Buskirk ChumleyTheater from September 18-22. The movie was filmed all around Bloomington, so if you buy tickets to see it, you will be able to spot some familiar places. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Experience Local Food

Do you know about Food Truck Friday? Well, you do now. Every Friday, local food trucks gather in the center of town to serve customers some delicious options. Find vendors like Rasta Pops, LaPoblana, and Chocolate Moose at this weekly event. The trucks are parked at First United Methodist Church from 11am-9pm.

Enjoying local food on Friday evening might incline you to take a morning stroll through the Bloomington Farmers’ Market. Purchase locally grown produce, admire the bundles of flowers, and immerse yourself in the Bloomington community. The market takes place downtown every Saturday in September from 8am-1pm and October through November from 9am-1pm.

Cheer on IU Athletics

Football season has begun! Student tickets are only $10, so spend an afternoon at the stadium and cheer on the Hoosiers.

Men’s and women’s soccer seasons are also taking place right now. Take a break from studying to attend one of these intense games.

Appreciate the Arts

Fall is the season of festivals! One of the most popular ones to attend is the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. Musicians from all different countries will be in Bloomington to perform from September 28-October 1. You will not want to miss this diverse event! For tickets, lineup, and more, visit the website.

There are also many fairs taking place on campus. First Thursdays are fun festivals that display IU talent in music, theatre, and dance. Group performances, demonstrations, crafts, and food can be found at these monthly events. The festivals will be taking place on September 7, October 5, and November 2 in the Arts Plaza.

The IU Auditorium also has a great line up of shows this year. Browse through their website and purchase tickets to see some amazing performances.

Take Part in Homecoming Weekend

Homecoming Weekend starts on October 13! Score free IU gear and watch the parade starting at 6pm at the IMU. Then, attend the football game on Saturday against the University of Michigan. This is an action-packed weekend, so don your cream and crimson and enjoy the events!

Explore Nature

Autumn means the leaves will be changing, and campus will become one of the most beautiful places on earth. Take a trip to the Hickory Ridge fire tower and admire the colorful forests at sunrise or sunset. Grab a few friends and explore the state parks. Whatever you do, make the most out of this seasonal splendor.

With so many things to do, there is no excuse to sit inside all day. Venture off campus and make some memories!

Hi! My name is Christina, and I'm a junior at IU. I am majoring in Media with a concentration in Film Production and a minor in Spanish. My goal is to create engaging content by sharing my knowledge and parts of my college experience here on We Are IU. Whether you are reading a post about applying for scholarships, or just looking for ideas on how to decorate your dorm, I hope you find my work and the blogs of other writers very helpful in your search!